Highly reliable and energy-efficient electrosynthesis of high-purity hydrogen peroxide from air and water in a nanobubble facilitated porous solid electrolyte reactor

Our proposed project aims to develop a nanobubble-facilitated porous solid electrolyte (PSE) reactor for the direct and continuous electrosynthesis of high-purity H2O2 with low energy consumption and high operational stability. This technology directly addresses the challenges of traditional H2O2 production by enabling onsite, electrolyte-free synthesis, eliminating complex separation processes, and significantly enhancing efficiency and reliability. The intended use of funding is to optimize key design components, including a high-performance 2e⁻-ORR electrode, an ultrathin porous PSE wafer, and a 100 cm² prototype reactor, ensuring scalability and long-term operational stability for practical deployment. Our competitive advantages lie in the integration of nanobubble aeration, which enhances oxygen mass transport, allowing for six times higher 2e⁻-ORR current density than the required benchmark and reducing energy consumption to <0.05 kWh/day, a 100× improvement over conventional electrochemical H2O2 production. By eliminating anion exchange membranes (AEMs), our design overcomes stability limitations, extending reactor lifespan and enabling high-efficiency, decentralized H2O2 generation. Beyond NASA applications, this technology has strong commercialization potential in municipal water treatment, healthcare disinfection, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and chemical synthesis, where high-purity H2O2 is critical. Our target markets include NASA, private space companies, defense organizations, and commercial industrial sectors requiring safe, cost-effective, and sustainable H2O2 production solutions including water treatment, disinfection, semiconductor, etc.. The successful development of this innovation will position our technology as a leading solution for both space-based and more broader applications, providing a scalable and energy-efficient alternative to existing methods.

Our nanobubble-facilitated PSE reactor offers a high-performance, energy-efficient, and durable solution for onsite H2O2 production, directly addressing the requirements outlined in Subtopic H3.14: Nanobubble Facilitated Hydrogen Peroxide Production in Space. Unlike conventional electrolyzers, our reactor achieves direct electrosynthesis of pure H2O2 without requiring downstream separation, significantly simplifying system design and reducing operational complexity for ECLSS in spacecraft. A key innovation of our design is the nanobubble-enhanced oxygen transport mechanism, which increases the O2 volumetric mass transfer by two orders of magnitude and improves O2 solubility nearly fourfold, enabling stable, high-efficiency 2e⁻-ORR operation. By eliminating the need for anion exchange membranes (AEMs)—a common failure point in peroxide electrolyzers—our reactor mitigates degradation risks and enhances long-term reliability. Additionally, our 3D carbon catalyst and ultrathin, uniform PSE wafer structure optimize reaction kinetics, ensuring low cell voltage and improved scalability.This innovation is highly relevant to NASA missions, particularly long-duration lunar and Martian habitation (Artemis Program, Mars Transit Missions), where in-situ H2O2 production reduces launch mass, storage needs, and supply chain dependencies. Our technology supports closed-loop ECLSS operations, providing a sustainable, autonomous disinfection and water treatment solution while offering potential applications in ISRU-based chemical synthesis and propulsion.Our proposed reactor exceeds NASA’s target performance metrics, delivering >500 mg/L H2O2 concentration (5× the required threshold) with <0.05 kWh/day energy consumption (100× lower than the specified target) and demonstrating long-term stability exceeding 1000 hours. Successful Phase I validation will derisk this technology and lay the groundwork for Phase II system integration, advancing its deployment in future deep-space missions. Our nanobubble-facilitated PSE reactor presents significant commercialization opportunities beyond NASA applications, particularly in industrial water treatment, medical disinfection, chemical synthesis, and environmental remediation. Traditional H2O2 production relies on the anthraquinone process, which is energy-intensive, centralized, and requires costly transportation and storage. Our onsite, electrochemical H2O2 generation technology eliminates these inefficiencies, offering a scalable, high-purity, and cost-effective alternative that aligns with the growing demand for sustainable and decentralized chemical production. Compared to traditional process, our coupled system offers a 50% reduction in both capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX), while streamlining the production process and eliminating the need for costly downstream separation. Beyond cost and efficiency benefits, Solidec’s approach drives environmental sustainability by eliminating hazardous byproducts and reducing carbon emissions by up to 80-90% when powered by renewable electricity. The system’s scalability and adaptability allow it to seamlessly integrate into industrial processes, providing a more resilient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical manufacturing. Potential non-NASA customers include municipal water treatment facilities, healthcare providers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and chemical processing industries that require safe, high-purity H2O2 for disinfection, oxidation, and synthesis. Our go-to-market strategy involves collaborative partnerships, pilot deployments, and regulatory certifications to demonstrate performance, economic viability, and scalability. By outperforming existing electrochemical H2O2 production methods and aligning with the global shift toward on-demand, sustainable chemical generation, our technology is well-positioned for broad commercial adoption across multiple sectors.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.